Ice Cream Pie

I made an ice cream pie for Christmas dinner. I used the Walnut Pie Crust. You melt your ice cream and place it in the crust and then freeze. Serve with toppings of your choice. I thought I had buttered the pan before putting the crust in but when we went to serve it the crust would not come out. That was sad, because I think the crust is the best part.

Walnut Pie Crust
1 cup pastry or all-purpose flour
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Dash salt
3/4 cup walnut pieces
6 tablespoons butter, melted

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. You will need one buttered, 9-inch deep dish pie pan either a light-colored or glass pan. Place the flour, sugar, cinnamon and salt in a small bowl and stir to combine. Place the nuts in a food processor or blender and pulse just long enough to chop the nuts finely, not into a paste. Scrape the nuts into the flour mixture and stir to combine. Add the melted butter and combine well. Press the mixture into the buttered pie pan making certain that the crust is evenly thick. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes or until it just starts to brown on the edges. Do not over bake. A light-colored or glass pan will absorb less heat than a dark one and help ensure against over baking.

Countdown to Santa's Arrival

Here is a link to watch Santa's arrival throughout the world.
http://www.noradsanta.org/en/home.html

Hole In One

In the book Fudge Cupcake Murder by Joanne Fluke she shares this recipe. When I read it, it reminded that my Mother used to make it for us when we were kids. So today I made it for me. I added a little cheese to it. It doesn't look as good as my Mom's but it was the memory that was wonderful!!!!!

One slice of bread (any kind)

One egg

Softened butter

Biscuit cutter or juice glass

Spray a frying pan with non-stick spray and set it aside. Butter the pieces of bread on one side. Put it butter-side-down in the frying pan. Butter the side on top. With a biscuit cutter or the rim of a juice glass, stamp a hole in the center of the slice of bread. Put the circle you've cut out next to the slice of bread in the pan. Put the pan on medium heat and wait until the bread starts to fry. Then crack an egg and drop it into the hole in the bread. Add salt and pepper to the egg if you wish. When the egg has cooked on the bottom, flip the whole thing, bread and all, with a pancake turner. Also flip the cutout circle of bread. Fry until the egg is done the way you want it.

Christmas Decorations

Christmas Statue

This is the beautiful statue that is in front of the Provo Temple.

Crossword Puzzle

Here is a website where you can download a program so you can create your own crossword puzzle. I thought this would be fun to have a personalized Christmas puzzle.
http://www.freedownloadaday.com/2008/12/14/create-your-own-crossword-puzzles-with-eclipsecrossword/
Enjoy!!!!

Fudge Cupcakes

I just finished reading Fudge Cupcake Murder by Joanne Fluke. I enjoy her books. She includes at least 8 recipes in each book. This one happened to have one particular recipe that was discussed throughout the book because the owner of the Cookie Jar was trying to figure out what the secret ingredient was in a recipe she received. She must have mixed up the cupcake recipe 6 times and having the son and daughter-in-law of the submitter taste them until she figured out that it was Raspberry Syrup.

Fudge Cupcakes
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F., rack in the middle position

4 squares unsweetened baking chocolate (1 ounce each)
1/4 cup white sugar
1/2 cup raspberry syrup (for pancakes - I used Knott's red raspberry)
1 2/3 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter, room temperature (one stick, 1/4 pound)
1 1/2 cups white sugar (not a misprint - you'll use 1 3/4 cups sugar in all)
3 eggs
1/3 cup milk

Line a 12-cup muffin pan with double cupcake papers. Since this recipe makes 18 cupcakes, you can use an additional 6-cup muffin pan lined with double papers, or you can butter and flour an 8-inch square cake pan or the equivalent.
Microwave the chocolate, raspberry syrup and 1/4 cup sugar in a microwave-safe bowl on high for 1 minute. Stir. Microwave again for another minute. At this point, the chocolate will be almost melted, but it will maintain its shape. Stir the mixture until smooth and let cool to lukewarm. (You can also do this in a double boiler on the stove.)
Measure flour, mix in baking powder and salt and set aside. In an electric mixer (or with a VERY strong arm), beat th butter and 1 1/2 cups sugar until light and fluffy. (About 3 minutes with a mixer - an additional 2 minutes if you're doing it by hand.) Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition to make sure they're thoroughly incorporated. Ad approximately a third of the flour mixture and a third of the milk. (You don't have to be exact - adding the flour and milk in increments makes the batter smoother.) When that's all mixed in, add another third of the flour and another third of the milk. When that's incorporated, add the remainder of the flour and the remainder of the milk. Mix thoroughly.
Test your chocolate mixture to make sure it's cool enough to add. (You don't want to cook the eggs!) If it's fairly warm to the touch but not so hot you have to pull your hand away, you can add it at this point. Stir thoroughly and you're done.
Let the batter rest for five minutes. Then stir it again by hand and fill each cupcake paper three-quarters full. If you decided to use the 8-inch cake pan instead of the 6-cup muffin tin, fill it with the remaining batter.
Bake the cupcakes in a 350 degrees F. oven for 20 to 25 minutes. The 8-inch cake should bake an additional 5 minutes.

Fudge Frosting
2 cups chocolate chips (a 12-ounce package)
1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk

If you use a double boiler for this frosting, it's foolproof. You can also make it in a heavy saucepan over low to medium heat on th stovetop, but you'll have to stir it constantly with a spatula to keep it from scorching.
Fill the bottom part of the double boiler with water. Make sure it doesn't touch the underside of the top.
Put the chocolate chips in the top of the double boiler, set it over the bottom and place the double boiler on the stovetop at medium heat. Stir occasionally until th chocolate chips are melted.
Stir in the can of sweetened condensed milk and cook approximately two minutes, stirring constantly, until the frosting is shiny and of spreading consistency.
Spread on cupcakes, making sure to fill in the "frosting pocket".
Give the frosting pan to your favorite person to scrape.
These cupcakes are even bettr if you cool them, cover them, and let them sit for several hours before frosting them.

Penne a la Carbonara

I found this recipe through Giada De Laurentiis. It is an easy Carbonara reicpe. I could not find pancetta so I used prosciutto. I love the flavor!!!

1 lb pancetta, diced into 1 inch cubes

Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

6 eggs, at room temperature

1/2 cup heavy cream, at room temperature

1 1/4 cups freshly grated Parmesan

1 lb dried penne

4 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves

Heat a large saute pan, until hot. Add pancetta and saute until golden brown and crispy, about 5 minutes. Season with black pepper and remove pan from heat. In a medium bowl, beat the eggs and cream. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in Parmesan, reserving 2 tablespoons for garnish. In a large pot, boil 6 quarts of salted boiling water. Add pasta and cook until al dente, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain pasta in a colander. Do not rinse with water; you want to retain the pasta's natural starches so that the sauce will stick. While the pasta is still hot, return it back to the pot. Add the browned pancetta and mix well. Add the cream mixture and coat the pasta completely. It's important to work quickly while the pasta is still warm so that the cream mixture will cook, but not curdle. Add remaining Parmesan and chopped parsley. Makes 4 servings.

"Foolproof" Whole Wheat Bread

My sister-in-law made arrangements for her mother to give me a bread making lesson using a Bosch. It was a fun afternoon. While I was making bread, my sister-in-law was making bread and cinnamon rolls. It was fun!!! I learned a lot from both of them!

Combine 6 cups hot tap water and 8 cups freshly ground whole wheat flour in Bosch and mix on low speed. Add 2 tablespoons salt, 2/3 cup oil and 2/3 cup honey. Continue to mix until well blended. Add 1 cup flour to mixture. Add 2 1/2 tablespoons Saf yeast to mixture and blend thoroughly. Add 5 to 6 more cups flour to the mixture until it cleans bowl. Let knead for 8 minutes on low speed. Place dough in greased pans at 1/2 full. Place grocery bag loosely around pans. Let rise till double in bulk. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes. Turn out of pan immediately.